Sudan's president tries new tactics

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Use Of Force ◽  
Economic Hardship ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Breathing Space

Subject Sudan's state of emergency. Significance In a series of moves since February 22, President Omar al-Bashir has declared a state of emergency and instituted an overhaul of his government. These constitute by far the most significant reaction to the anti-government protests, ongoing since last December. Impacts Security forces may escalate their use of force and intimidation against protesters. The possibility of coup attempts may grow, despite Bashir’s efforts to control the security services. Effective initiatives to address economic hardship could provide limited breathing space for efforts to find a political solution.

Ethiopian protest risk rises as emergency declared

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Foreign Investment ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Risk Tolerance ◽  
The State ◽  
Internet Usage ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type

Significance The declaration came a week after reports emerged that protestors were attacking foreign businesses in the country as well as government property. Under the state of emergency, security forces will have expanded powers to search homes without warrants, detain individuals and restrict rights of assembly. Impacts Most foreign investment comes from firms based in other developing economies that have a high (but not unlimited) risk tolerance. Ethiopian claims of Egyptian and Eritrean links to violent protesters are tenuous and are meant to shift causality to external issues. Donors have limited traction and will push only for an outcome that yields stability rather than improvements in human rights. Further restrictions on communication (especially internet usage) are likely.

Ukraine strives to tighten hold on Zakarpatska

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Group ◽  
Political Party ◽  
Use Of Force ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Extreme Right ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type

Significance The president stated that despite the limits of Ukraine's security forces, the use of force will remain the state's prerogative. Poroshenko's comments follow the July 11 clash and ongoing situation in Ukraine's Zakarpatska region between security forces and armed units from the extreme right-wing group, Right Sector. Along with being a political party, Right Sector has provided fighters as part of the volunteer battalions that have boosted Ukraine's forces during the Donbas war. Impacts Mukacheve confrontation may complicate Ukraine-EU ties and delay easing of visa regime. Russia will try to capitalise on Zakarpatska's problems by supporting any hint of potential separatism of Rusyn ethnic group. Disturbance in west may serve as incentive for Donbas rebels to intensify fighting to try to exploit Right Sector-Kyiv rift.

Counterterrorism threatens Tunisia's democratic gains

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Political Opposition ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Threat Environment

Subject The impact of rising counterterrorism. Significance Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi on July 31 extended a state of emergency for another two months of as part of a widespread effort to fight extremist violence in the country. Coupled with a new counterterrorism law passed by parliament on July 24 that expands security forces powers, these measures raise fears of a broader government crackdown on dissent. Growing violence has fuelled international and domestic pressure on the government to confront extremism more effectively. Impacts The new counterterrorism law could be used to undermine legitimate political opposition. Tunis will use the current threat environment to request additional Western security aid. The closing of mosques accused of spreading radical messages will drive some Salafists underground and further radicalise others. Attacks against security forces and Western targets, including tourists, will continue.

Egypt’s police will try gradually to regain strength

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Civil Disobedience ◽  
Balance Of Power ◽  
The Political ◽  
State Control ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Constitutional Amendments ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Security Services ◽  
The Military

Subject The role and influence of Egypt's security services. Significance After the 2011 revolution, the security forces found themselves marginalised, losing their political sway, largely to the benefit of the military. The army’s decision-making and economic pre-eminence has moved from strength to strength, illustrated by last month’s constitutional amendments. The security services have, however, reprised many of their previous deployments and remain vital to ensuring tight state control. Impacts The political architecture and balance of power within the state are unlikely to shift in the medium term. Civil disobedience or any type of mobilisation will receive a harsh response. Ever more repressive tactics will heighten citizens’ sense of indignity. Without help from the military, the police would still be overwhelmed by a recurrence of protests on the scale of 2011.

COVID-19 may give Lebanon’s premier a short-term boost

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Breathing Space ◽  
The Government

Significance This came shortly after Prime Minister Hassan Diab addressed the nation, promising a 1.2-trillion-Lebanese pound (400-million-dollar) stimulus plan -- although it was unclear how this would be funded. The pandemic has in some ways provided a breathing space for Diab’s controversial, two-month-old cabinet, which was already facing a dire debt-driven economic crisis and popular unrest. It has focused national attention and allowed the government to demonstrate competence in its response -- managing the return of many Lebanese expatriates and since March 21 implementing a lockdown that has kept case numbers relatively low. Impacts The Lebanese pound is set to devalue further. With no realistic rescue plan for businesses, the economic effects of the lockdown could push many more people below the poverty line. The security services’ covert campaign against protests leaders could lead to more disorganised protests when the country reopens. Hezbollah could further disengage from its military role in Syria, focusing on protecting its community and domestic position.

Russia's new National Guard reflects stability worries

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
National Guard ◽  
Major Change ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Security Sector ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Security Services ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Inner Circle

Significance The new force consolidates security units across the country under a single command led by Putin loyalist Viktor Zolotov and is directly answerable to the president rather than a security-sector minister. The creation of a 'presidential army' suggests that Putin is concerned about the risk of mass protests amid an economic downturn, about the potential for elite conspiracies and about the trustworthiness of existing security agencies. Impacts The consolidation of security forces under Putin creates a more intimidating environment ahead of parliamentary polls in September. The lack of consultation on this major change underlines the disconnect between Putin's inner circle and the wider technocratic elite. The National Guard is likely to draw funding away from rival security services. MVD police officers who used to earn extra money via the Okhrana security company will drift back to extortion.

Intra-jihadist rivalry fuels violence in Lake Chad

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Economic Hardship ◽  
Boko Haram ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lake Chad ◽  
Economic Slowdown

Significance Competition between the jihadist groups remains tense and insecurity is being stoked further by intercommunal conflict over land and water resources that overstretched security forces are struggling to contain. Impacts Economic hardship will increase in the Lake Chad region amid the effects of climate change and economic slowdown due to the pandemic. Jihadist dominance in the region is almost certain to swing back and forth between ISWAP and Boko Haram. The use of the Boko Haram moniker to describe all jihadist operations poses challenges to accurate attribution of attacks.

Telework amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: effects on work style reform in Japan

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiro Hosoda
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Document Analysis ◽  
Environmental Barriers ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Style ◽  
The Government ◽  
Japanese Companies ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose This study aims to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected telework initiatives in Japanese companies and investigate the factors that affect telework based on the technology, organization and environment (TOE) model, through the analysis of published documents. Design/methodology/approach Document analysis was adopted. Documents were collected from English news articles in the Nikkei Asian Review and Nikkei Asia which cover Japan's economy, industries and markets. The results of surveys by the Persol Research Institute and Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry were also provided to discuss factors promoting and hindering telework. Content analysis was adopted to analyse the documents. Findings COVID-19 had an unavoidable impact on the implementation of telework that the government had previously failed to instigate. Japanese listed companies tend to implement telework, whereas small- and medium-sized companies are struggling. The ratio of telework has been low even after the declaration of the state of emergency because there exist organizational, technological and environmental barriers to telework in Japan. Originality/value This study contributes to discussions on work style reform by focusing on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on telework. This research also gives new insight into operationalization of telework in organizations not only in Japan but also in other countries known for low rates of telework and inflexible work styles such as Korea.

Jordan’s king will face rising popular pressures

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Financial Aid ◽  
Content Type ◽  
House Arrest ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Official Position ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
The Government ◽  
Crown Prince ◽  
Video Material

Significance Former Crown Prince Hamzah was placed under house arrest on April 3, as 20 other people were detained. His release of audio and video material that undermined the official position embarrassed the government, and the recent public reconciliation leaves his status unclear. Impacts Despite the aspersions cast on Riyadh, Gulf states will send further financial aid to boost stability and compete for influence. Another government reshuffle and further changes within the security services are likely. Relations between Abdullah and Hamzah will remain troubled, as the latter seeks to remain relevant in case an opportunity presents itself.

Measurement issues in police use of force: a state-of-the-art review

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 844-858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan E. Hollis
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Use Of Force ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Police Use Of Force ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Measurement Issues ◽  
Rigorous Research ◽  
Meta Review ◽  
Ebsco Host ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to systematically and comprehensively review the extant literature on measurement issues in police use of force. Design/methodology/approach The current study uses a narrative meta-review of measurement issues in police use of force through a systematic and exhaustive search of several academic databases (e.g. Criminal Justice Abstracts, EBSCO Host, PsychInfo, etc.). Findings The current meta-review identified 56 studies that matched the inclusion criteria. These studies examined public and police officer perceptions of use of force, rates of use of force, types of force used, neighborhood contextual correlates of use of force, and severity of force used. A wide variety of approaches were used to measure use of force, and operationalization of use of force was inconsistent across studies. This indicates a need for high-quality research focusing on comparable operationalization of variables, consistency in measurement, and use of more rigorous research techniques. The use of validated measures is essential moving forward. Practical implications The practical implications derived from this meta-review indicate a need for future researchers to carefully evaluate the measurement approaches used in use of force studies. The lack of consistency in measurement of use of force research is concerning, and a focused effort is required to validate measures. Originality/value The state-of-the-art review on measurement issues in police use of force is the first of its kind. This study comprehensively reviews the literature on measurement issues in police use of force. This study will be useful for those who wish to further explore measurement issues in police use of force issues in policing and those who wish to work toward validated use of force measures.

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